Travel> Hyderabad—here we come!

Image1: Canon at the Golconda Fort, at the clapping portico

Image2: At Palace Heights Restauran, Abids

Image3: View from Palace Heights

Image4: Entertainment program at Ramoji Film City

Image copyright: Tanya Munshi

Text by: Tanya Munshi

Right from the time I stepped into Hyderabad, the weather was a pleasant surprise. I had visited this city in early August and the timing was perfect. The monsoon showers made its appearance every now and then, ensuring that the city didn’t have to dwell in the heat for too long.

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My week long trip was the best and the most fun filled one I had in the land of the Nawabs. I know it’s quite an old and a clichéd saying, but then the city of Hyderabad is more than 400 years old that boasts of a balance between traditional and modernity. More popular for its pearls, the Char Minar, Golconda Fort, Hi-Tech City and of course, how could we forget the delicious biryani, Hyderabad is a one stop destination for all.

But I am keen on showcasing Hyderabad in a new light, in a way I discovered it on my own. In fact, this city has many other reasons to be famous for and I will bear testimony for them all.

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Churi Bazar

Let’s begin with my favourite part of the city that has left a wanting in me. I am talking about the famous Churi Bazar, situated just next to the famous Char Minar. It’s a complete stretch of road that exclusively sells bangles of exuberant variety. This is a famous haunt for the lasses of Hyderabad to shop for bangles and trinkets. These bangles range from lacquer, glass, plastic and metal, with simple to bold designs. Its amazing to see the riot of colours displayed here that will definitely confuse you as to what to buy and what not to! While you shop to your heart’s content don’t forget to bargain and remember that these shops open a little late by around 11:30 in the morning. So no need to rush through the day, enjoy it like you would sip a mildly brewed tea.

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During Ramzan and Id this place exhibits its true essence of the festivities. With the famous Karachi Mehendi known to adorn the hands of the bride on her special day, trinkets, zaris and bangles, this is THE place for traditional Muslim wedding needs. In fact, I picked up some trendy glass bangles that will compliment both ethnic and casual wear at work and home.

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Pearls

Pearl shopping is the next best thing that you can do in Hyderabad. It would be sacrilege to not indulge in some pearl shopping, that too in a town known for its fine quality of white, coloured and treated pearls. Ladies, please ensure your husbands are in close proximity when you go pearl shopping, as the prices are simply to die for. Apart from a host of designs with pearls and gem stones, don’t miss the pearl junk jewellery at Jagadamba Pearls.

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Places like Princess Pearls, Jagadamba Pearls, and Krishna Pearls are genuine places to buy string and readymade pearls. String pearls will be cheaper as they will be beaded on thin nylon threads with a hook. You can either choose to wear it as is, or get it done in a design of your choice from your trusted jeweller.

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Thanks to the IT and growing corporate sector in Hyderabad, the city has generous doses of malls from Shoppers’ Stop, Lifestyle and Hyderabad Central. Of course, how could we forget movie halls, lounges and pubs that form the very existence of the night life.
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Eating out
But we weren’t too keen on the malls, but a movie? Yes! Why, after a sumptuous Thai meal at the Prasad’s Food Court, we headed for straight for Superman Returns, in 3D IMAX situated in Prasad’s itself. The halls are fantastic, and very impressive as per international standards.

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On another night, my husband and I made a beeline to one of the happening pubs in town—Bottles and Chimney. The place is well done up, spacious, with good music, though with a small dance floor. The sofas are nice and cushy that was utterly relaxing after an entire day of sight seeing and window shopping. Rounds of beer, Virgin Coladas and Chicken Chilly were a perfect treat for our tummies.

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Sight Seeing

The city of Hyderabad is also famous for—The Salarjung Museum. This is an interesting place where you can actually spend the entire day at leisure looking at the exhibits. The best part about the museum is a clock which has a little soldier that makes an appearance every hour to strike the gong that number of times. With a seating area in front of the clock and two huge LCD screens, this place is packed at 12:00 noon to get a better glimpse of the little soldier who’ll appear in time to strike the gong 12 times. There is so much of history and knowledge stored here, that I think this is the best museum I have been to and would like to pay a visit again.

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Ramoji Film City was the star attraction at Hyderabad and I suggest you should squeeze a day to freak out here. The rain gods were extra generous the day we planned a trip there, but then there is so much to do and see there, a little bit rain can’t spoil the fun; in fact, it adds to the ambience.

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On reaching Ramoji, you need to buy an entry pass which offers a guided tour in the film city and a pick up and drop at the main entrance. This largest film city in Asia is surely going to mesmerize you, when you see how beautifully this place has been done up and maintained. Don’t be surprised to see the red London buses coming to pick you up for the guided tour; the journey is fun and exciting.

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From Taj Mahal, Vrindavan Gardens, dhabas and much more, you will find all of them here. The well manicured lawns, red flowers lining the pot-hole free roads transport you to a foreign location. The guided bus tour will also take you to a railway station, which has a real train engine. This railway station is in fact a set used to give that realistic effect when a hero and heroine are seen eloping by train. And would you believe it? Most of the architecture at the film city is made of plaster of Paris!

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At Ramoji, you can also entertain yourself with a variety of games, rides, magic shows and stunt shows held in the in house auditoriums at fixed timings. For lunch you could feast on the delicious butter chicken and garlic naan at the in house restaurant of the film city.

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On another evening, visiting the Golconda Fort was an enriching experience. The fort is built with such modernity, that it makes us ponder as to how advanced in thinking and logic they were back in history.
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If you clapped your hands at the portico at the entrance of the fort or the Fateh Darwaza, the ceilings are created in such a way, that the clap echoes almost 200 meters up to the palace. Hence, in case of any danger or to pass an important message, the messenger didn’t have to run up all the way, all he had to do was just clap at the portico and call out the message which could be clearly heard by the royalty up there.

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The Sound and Light Show at the Golconda Fort, is held in two languages—English and Telugu, just after sunset. The English narration is by none other than the legendry Amitabh Bacchan who along with the tunes of the famous gazal singer Jagjit Singh takes you along the story of how this fort came to into existence. In this show you can see the lights being displayed in various hues at every nook and corner of the palace, matching with the narration, thereby bringing the ruins back to life.

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The Lumbini Park is another added attraction in Hyderabad. It may not be as jazzy as what you may have seen abroad, but the laser show is definitely enjoyable. An ideal place to go with your family, to sit out in the open enjoying the lights and water fountains dance to the tunes of popular Bollywood tracks.
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The Char Minar of course will be a part of your travel itinerary. In fact, when you plan on visiting the Churi Bazar, leave a little early and drop by at the Minar once, as it shuts down by sunset. Once you’ve climbed up till the first two floors, you can see the entire skyline of the city. The stairs are extremely narrow and winding and one must be careful while climbing down.

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Biryani

Now coming to my favourite part of the trip—feasting on kaathi kebabs and chicken biryani at Paradise Persis. Initially I always felt that people exaggerated when they spoke about this place, but once I personally paid a visit to the restaurant I was really happy to be wrong. The spread and the quantity for the price were amazing and the meats just melted in our mouths. I can assure you that you wouldn’t mind binging even if your tummy was full. In fact, our friends went to the extent of packing Paradise biryani in the afternoon when we were headed back for home.
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Another place for some real tasty Chinese is at Palace Heights on Abids. The interesting thing about this restaurant is that it is located on the top most floor, offering you a view of both the old and the new Hyderabad city. Good service, nawabi ambience and delicious food constitute Palace Heights. It seemed like a popular restaurant as even on a weekday afternoon this place had a good deal of clientele.

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This city is lovely; it has a certain charm of its own which has got me hooked to it. It’s not as rushed as in metropolises of Mumbai and Delhi, but then you get the best of both worlds here. To get enchanted and enjoy a good break in the city, Hyderabad is certainly a good choice.

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Contact information
1) Bangle shops at Churi Bazar:
Fine Bangles

Meena Bangles

2) Restaurants & Pubs:
Hotel Palace Heights,
8th Floor, Triveni Complex, Abids,
Hyderabad.

Hotel Paradise Persis
M.G. Road, Hyderabad - 500003
Phone: 27843115

Bottles and Chimney
Begumpet,
Hyderabad 500016
Phone: (40) 27766464, 27762368
Website: http://www.bottleschimney.com/

3) Pearl jewellery:
Motilal Jewellers and Pearls
Opp. Madina Building, Pathergatti,
Hyderabad

Sri Jagadamba Pearls
2-4-26, MG Road,
Opp. Mahatma Gandhi Statue,
Secundarabad-3

Princess Pearls
Shop No. 5-4-666/1,
Peshwari Plaza, South Abids,
Nampally Station Road, Near Saptagiri Hotel, Hyderabad

4) Sight seeing:

Ramoji Film City

Show timings:
Opening Ceremony: 9:45 am
Alampana Theatre: 12:30am and 3:45 pm (daily two shows)
Wild West Stunt Show: 1:00pm and 4:30pm
Closing Ceremony: 5:30pm

Address:
Contact details for Ramoji Film City
91-40-55510912/55510913
Email: rfcsales@hd2.dot.net.in.

Salarjung Museum,
Salarjung Marg,
Hyderabad – 500002
Phone: 040-2457643
Museum timings are 9:45 am to 4:00pm

Lumbini Park
Near Tankbund,
Hyderabad-500004